Hundreds File Claims With Chevron Following Refinery Fire

Smoke rises from the scene of a fire at the Chevron refinery in Richmond. (James P./CBS)Smoke rises from the scene of a fire at the Chevron refinery in Richmond, August 6, 2012. (James P.)

RICHMOND (CBS SF) – About 1,000 claims forms have been filed since thick smoke and soot from a massive fire at Chevron’s Richmond refinery Monday evening sent 950 area residents to local hospitals, a Chevron spokesman said Wednesday afternoon.

Claims for compensation to cover medical costs, wage losses and property damage have poured in since Chevron established a claims process through insurance services firm Crawford and Co., Chevron spokesman Sam Singer said.

KCBS’ Jeffrey Schaub Reports:

A statement released by Chevron on Tuesday reads, “We intend to compensate our neighbors for medical and property expenses incurred as a result of the incident. We will also see to it that communities will be reimbursed for the costs they face for emergency personnel who responded.”

Singer said he did not have a breakdown of the specific costs the claims sought to cover.

“Most of these claims were (from) people who have gone to see a doctor or complained of health issues, property damage or income loss,” he said.